TriMet receives $85 million for Portland to Milwaukie light-rail line

Trimet in Portland, Ore., has been awarded $85 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation to help complete the Portland to Milwaukie light-rail line.

"The Portland to Milwaukie line will expand Portland's world-class public transit system even further throughout the metropolitan region," said Senator Jeff Merkley. "As a nation we must reduce our addiction to overseas oil. The MAX's success has proven that when people have good transit options, they often prefer to leave their cars at home. This grant helps give more people that option, which is good for them and good for our country."

The grant is funded through the New Starts program and is part of the federal government's commitment to provide half of the Portland to Milwaukie light-rail project budget and bring new transit options to communities in downtown Portland, South Waterfront, Southeast Portland, Milwaukie and North Clackamas County. Service on the region's sixth light-rail line will begin in 2015.